A New Zealand Plastic Surgeon, Mr Zachary Moavenia has looked at dog bites in New Zealand. The study looked at the 99,003 bites  reported to ACC between 2004and 2014, with 5842 cases requiring hospitalisation. This is an important and often highly charged area of trauma prevention that has had little data and research. It will be good to read the paper.See the media story here:

Dog Bite Study shows dog attacks on the rise

Children under nine years old were at highest risk, particularly Maori and those living in low socioeconomic areas. Injury analysis showed that children were much more likely to be bitten on the face and neck.  More than three quarters (79 percent) of reported bites to 0-4 year olds were to the head or neck, compared to just 8 % of bites to 20 to 59 year olds.

The Minister has asked officials to look at this study. The Prime Minister has also  commented, noting that good dog ownership appears to be the most important factor.

Hopefully public policy measures that are developed around proven strategies and then monitored, will be able to reduce these statistics.

The annual Adult Trauma Service conference is this Thursday – 6th August

Check out the programme here  Injury_2015_Reg_Prog

The New Zealand Transport Agency has a Safer Journeys programme to reduce our road toll.  It is based on the safe Systems approach.  The one minute clip on this link will tell you about it.  Or go directly to the 20 minute clip on the same page to see what happens to a rock solid 1959 Chevrolet in a crash….well worth the watch

the Safe System.

So what works? Fear campaigns? Lots of leaflets? The link on the next attachment takes you to an interesting international report on what works in road safety.

Road safety Campaigns – what the research tells us –  Traffic Injury Research 2015 Road Safety Campaigns Report 2

Better spinal injury outcomes goal of new policy

24 July 2015 – Announced by Ministers Jonathan Coleman, Nikki Kaye

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye have confirmed that from next month people who suffer spinal cord injuries will be taken straight to a specialist hospital it feasible, to maximise their long-term health and rehabilitation outcomes.

A copy of the Action Plan is on the Ministry of Health Website: Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan

New research describes the experiences of care givers of children who sustained a serious head injury (particularly non accidental head injury) before the age of 2 years. Interviews were with 21 caregivers of 15 children.

Click here for the abstract:  “Caregivers voices: the experiences of caregivers of children who sustained serious  accidental and non accidental head injury in early childhood“

Authors: Julie Wharewera, Erana Cooper, Bridget Kool, Susan Pereira and Patrick Kelly

Published in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 1-19

Sports Concussion highlight:

Designed for parents and coaches, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HEADS UP Concussion and Helmet Safety App provides instant access to concussion safety info – when and where you need it.

Check the link: HEADS UP Concussion and Helmet Safety app

A special thank you to our 2015 sponsors the Culpan Medical team whose contribution kept the conference accessible

A few more conference pictures to enjoy

Thanks to Ailsa Claire our ADHB CEO who took time from her busy schedule to open the conference, here with James Hamill, Starship Trauma Service Co-Director

Thanks to our hard working reception team conference attendees were able to reach the morning coffee in quick time

Some had the chance to catch up with colleagues

Displays were popular and informative: Our special thanks to Chantal from Intermed

Heather provided injury prevention information and resources from Safekids

The Northland team had a good turnout

Focus on Potential practitioners had a chance to catch up

– as did medical colleagues from around the country.

A very special thanks to all our presenters – we couldn’t have a Kids Trauma Conference without you!

A selection of presentations will be available online over the next few weeks.

Please contact me with any further feedback for our conference organising committee, or with any questions.

Julie Chambers: Juliech@ADHB.govt.nz    Mobile 021 2415771

Kids Trauma Conference 2015

The Kids Trauma Conference is an annual event held on the first Friday in May. This year’s conference was fully booked. Our apologies for those who missed out.  Flyers for the Kids Trauma Conference 2016 will be available  December 2015.  We look forward to your joining us in 2016

Programme
0830   Powhiri

0850    Opening address by Auckland District Health Board CEO – Ailsa Claire

0900    Surgery for Spinal Trauma – Haemish Crawford

0920     Inter-hospital Transfers in the North Island – Brent McSharry

0940     In-hospital Transfers – Georgina Bough

1000    Managing the Multi-Trauma Child in Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) – Elizabeth Segedin

1030    Morning tea

1100     Research Rapid Session Chaired by  Bridget Kool (University of Auckland)

Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in New Zealand: evidence for significant executive dysfunction and behavioural problems – Kelly Jones & Associate Professor Nicola Stakey (AUT)

Keeping our children injury-free:  Household safety evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand  – Cheryl Gammon/Lisa Underwood (University of Auckland)

Burns and silver in children. What dressings should we be using on minor burns? – Matt Brown (Starship)

Injury and alcohol in young people: inequities in risks and service access – Shanthi Ameratunga & Roshini Peiris-John on behalf of the Adolescent Health Research Group (University of Auckland)

In Situ Simulation training for paediatric trauma preparedness – Jo Cole (Starship)

Longer-term outcomes for child trauma: research gaps – Shanthi Ameratunga, Sandar Tin Tin, Belinda Gabbe (University of Auckland/Monash University)

1230     Lunch

1315     Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan for Kids    Kathryn Edward

1335    The Science of Pain   Andrew Liley

1355    Therapy for Pain Syndromes   Camilla Saxby

1415    A Family’s Journey   Luka and Kim

1445    Discussion

1530    Debriefing and Diffusing – Practice Models for Families and Trauma Teams – Kathy Bublitz & Andrew Thompson

 Conference Closed

Kidsafe Victoria’s new Post Injury Support Portal is designed to provide useful information specific to the post injury period. The site includes a range of fact sheets for downloading.  Kidsafe Victoria are careful to say the site does not intend to replace medical advice, but provide resources.

Click here    http://www.kidsafevic.com.au/post-injury-support

Kids Trauma Conference next year will be on Friday 1st May – 2015.

Provisional programme includes:

• The scene of the crash
• Managing the multi-trauma child in Intensive Care
• Spinal  Injury
• Pain and much more…

Visit again for more detail or email   Juliech@adhb.govt.nz